Multiple fires break out around Ruidoso

High winds topple trees, damaging power lines

Ruidoso firefighters were quick to respond and "knock down" a fire that broke out Tuesday evening at Cherokee Mobile Home Park on U.S. 70. (Courtesy Arthur Hoopes)

Firefighters battled three fires in the Ruidoso area Wednesday and one on Tuesday, after strong wind gusts topped trees and damaged power lines.

High winds triggered a power line to arc Tuesday above Cherokee Mobile Home Park on U.S. 70, creating sparks that ignited dry grass and fueled a running fire that quickly was extinguished by fire fighters from Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs.

Investigators determined that a top blown off of a dead snag and hit a telephone line that bounced up and touched the lashing on the high line power wire, causing sparks to fly, according to a news release from the village of Ruidoso Wednesday.

Fire Chief Harlan Vincent said his department was dispatched about 4 p.m. Tuesday, to 107 Signal Peak Road, where the fire was burning between two mobile homes owned by the same person.

"The fire was running toward an out-building, but our units kept it off. It already was in a wood pile and backing down the canyon," he said.

Responding to the call, five firefighters also helped from the Ruidoso Downs Fire Department, as did officers from the Ruidoso Police Department, Vincent said.

"We had five on-duty firefighters and four off-duty respond (from Ruidoso). Our off-duty dress in their wildland uniforms everyday and follow these fires around. They love serving the community. They knocked the fire down in 10 to 12 minutes," he said. "It took another three to four hours to mop up."

Vincent said he assigned personnel to stay at the fire scene overnight, because of the heavy winds.

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"We want people when they go to bed to know we've got their backs," the chief said.

Three fires Wednesday

Fire crews were called out at 9:50 a.m., Wednesday to fight a grass fire on Homestead Loop caused by a tree falling on a power line. By 11 a.m., the fire was considered extinguished, but firefighters were checking the site throughout the day to monitor flare-ups and hot spots. The wind continued to create problems and units were dispatched again at 11:20 a.m., for mutual aid requested by Lincoln County to fight flames in the Cedar Creek area where a downed power line sparked a grass fire. The firefighters were released from the scene at 11:40 a.m., after the fire was judged to be out.

Firefighters from Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs were called out a third time before lunch to a grass fire in the Ponderosa Heights neighborhood. They were aided by the Smokey Bear Hot Shots of the U.S. Forest Service. Four structures were threatened, but none were lost. The blaze was confined to one acre and crews with chain saws created a line around the entire fire disturbed area. By 2:45 p.m., the fire was 95 percent contained and personnel was beginning the mop-up operation. Also helping at the scene were Ruidoso police officers and staff from the Public Service Company of New Mexico, known as PNM.